2024 Volume 66 Issue 1 Pages 67-86
This study aims to clarify how animal images contribute to psychological change in children. A meta-perspective examination of the psychotherapeutic process was conducted over three groups with different psychological symptoms. The results showed that the contribution of animal images towards relieving symptoms was different for each group. For the Selective mutism group, who experience psychological conflicts, animals with polysemous images played a symbolic role in breaking through the psychological stalemate. For the Tic disorder and Trichotillomania group, who experience problems regarding the body-mind relationship and aggression, animals with powerful and natural characteristics helped children express their physical power. The Autism spectrum disorder group preferred images of insects, fish, and reptiles, rather than mammals, which are closer to humans, indicating that they preferred images of animals and wildness in a more primitive form.
